So... what exactly are we all supposed to do? Taking reasonable precautions is extremely disruptive. Not taking reasonable precautions is extremely disruptive (when everyone gets sick and overwhelms the medical system). It seems like pretty much any reaction is going to result in extreme disruption. Which really isn't even that surprising given the extremely disruptive nature of a global pandemic.
First thing would be to mentally disconnect the supply of people in quarantine from the spread of the virus. Even under lockdown, quarantined people will be supplied and grocery stores open and supplied.
Then, follow the guidelines (washing hands, ....). Avoid big groups, keep a certain distance. Regarding shopping, buy normal volumes of stuff. That always works, the system is used to this. If there are things missing, buy small volumes. Spread shopping over multiple shops of multiple chains. Ideally over multiple days. This keeps peak small, reducing the risk of supply disruption.
And keep away from things medical professionals would need as well.
If push comes to shove, accept shortages of luxury stuff and certain products. But we are very far from that.
>Even under lockdown, quarantined people will be supplied and grocery stores open and supplied.
From an American perspective, that is not immediately clear to me.
>Avoid big groups, keep a certain distance.
...
> buy normal volumes of stuff ... Spread shopping over multiple shops of multiple chains
These two things are not compatible in my view.
>If push comes to shove, accept shortages of luxury stuff and certain products. But we are very far from that.
Maybe where you are. My grocery shopping trip this morning ended with me re-planning meals for the week in the supermarket based on what was available. A wide range of staple ingredients were completely out of stock.
We might see shortages for stuff coming from China, inventoires will slowely be depleted and the replenishment from China severly hampered by the situation in Europe and the US. Stuff sourced / produced on the same continent won't hit nearly as hard. As long the production doesn't break down there shouldn't be to hard impacts. And since quarantine measures only started a couple of days ago, we can rule out those impacts as causes for the shortages you saw. Leaves short term and mid term disruptions caused by, what I might call, panic shopping, which outpaced replenishment.
